Per reports from Golf Channel, Akshay Bhatia declined a substantial proposition to become part of LIV Golf. Bhatia represents the most recent golfer from the PGA Tour whom the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund-supported league has tried to recruit, ahead of its 2026 season commencing in the coming month.
His potential signing would have marked the most prominent acquisition for LIV Golf during a recruitment period that largely failed to yield results. Min Woo Lee, Sungjae Im, and Si Woo Kim, all international athletes, were among those LIV Golf tried to entice but failed, as they each publicly declared their commitment to the PGA Tour for 2026 via social media platforms.
Since 2023, the 24-year-old Bhatia has held full-time status on the PGA Tour. Throughout his tenure with the tour, the slender left-handed player has secured a pair of wins and achieved a tie for third place at the previous year’s Players Championship, narrowly missing a playoff by merely a few shots. Widely considered an emerging talent, Bhatia is anticipated to contend for positions on upcoming U.S. Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup squads.
Beyond facing rejections in its recruitment efforts, LIV Golf also saw one of its key figures depart when Brooks Koepka separated from the circuit. He revealed in December his intention to prioritize family commitments in 2026, leading to widespread speculation of an eventual return to the PGA Tour once a suitable route is established.
Since 2023, Koepka had secured five victories within LIV Golf and notably became the first competitor from that tour to achieve a major championship triumph by winning the 2023 PGA Championship.
With Koepka’s departure, Talor Gooch has assumed leadership as captain for Smash GC. Harold Varner III is also anticipated to join the squad, alongside Thomas Detry and Elvis Smylie, who are making their debut in the league. Detry secured a spot within the top 50 of the 2025 FedEx Cup rankings, propelled by his victory at the WM Phoenix Open, while Smylie is a promising Australian newcomer who captured the Australian PGA Championship title late in 2024.
Additional new faces joining LIV Golf are Victor Perez and Laurie Canter. Canter had secured a PGA Tour card for the 2026 season by concluding in the top 10 of the Race to Dubai on the DP World Tour. Nevertheless, the English golfer opted against pursuing opportunities on the PGA Tour, choosing instead to re-join LIV Golf, where he had largely competed during 2023.
